A feud at the top of Kentucky's government escalated into an extraordinary legal battle Thursday when the governor was sued by his hand-picked lieutenant governor over a bitter staffing dispute.The fight erupted deep into Gov. Matt Bevin's reelection efforts and muddied his campaign's efforts to put the focus on his ties to President Donald Trump and his anti-abortion stand.

Democrats were quick to pounce, pointing to Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton's lawsuit as another example of what they called a "dysfunctional mess" caused by the combative Republican governor.